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Ginkgo biloba and fibroids
I suffer from Raynaud’s disease and so started taking ginkgo last winter to improve my circulation. The good news is that this has worked well for me but I am worried the herb could be having an adverse effect on fibroids in my uterus. These have grown substantially and a hysterectomy has now been suggested.
There is no clinical evidence that ginkgo biloba will have this adverse effect on existing fibroids, but only because nobody has yet investigated a possible link. That said, there is no body of empirical evidence (this is anecdotal evidence reported by patients and practitioners) either - so the honest answer is we simply do not know. The safe therapeutic daily dose of ginkgo is 120mg a day, so my first question would be - are you taking more than this?
What we can say is that for fibroids to grow, they need oestrogen and so while ginkgo will not increase levels of this hormone, because it works to boost circulation, is maybe that it indirectly increases the availability of oestrogen by increasing circulation to the reproductive organs. This is purely speculative but does suggest you might be wise to consider an alternative.
In the first instance, I would forget the Raynaud’s for the time being and tackle the fibroids by taking the hormone-balancing herb, agnus castus (chasteberry) to prevent any further growth; plus a phytoestrogen-rich essential fatty acid mix to re-regulate oestrogen levels.
The brands I am going to recommend will provide the therapeutic dosages you need. Natures Plus Agnus Castus provides 150mg of the active agents; 60 capsules cost £14.95. Barlean’s The Essential Woman combines organic flax oil with isoflavones, which will help control oestrogen levels. It costs £19.99 for 350ml; take 2 tablespoons a day.
If circulation remains a problem, switch from ginkgo to horsechestnut, an equally effective circulatory booster, but remember, you may face the same risk since this too will increase blood flow to the womb. Drs A-Z Horsechestnut provides time-release capsules (which is important because this herb is water soluble) in a dosage of 200mg. Take one a day. You can mail order all three remedies from Victoria Health (0800-413596).